Ash-sifter



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. SMITH.

ASH SIFTER.

No. 550,697. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

'Witnesss.

Attorneys.

AN DRW BGRAHANL PHOTO-UTNQWASHINFIOM D.CV

(No Model.)

2 SheetsS11eet 2.

H. M. SMITH.

ASH SIFTER. I No. 550,697. Patented Dec. 3, 1895.

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I Ff e Witnesses. Inventor.

ygmwai Attorneys.

ANDREW B 6RA|MMJHOTO-UTHQWASHINGTOl D12.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

HERBERT M. SMITH, OF 'WOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

ASH-SIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,697, dated December 3, 1895. Application filed January 25, 1895- Serial No. 536,200. (No model) T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Ash-Sifters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong, simple,, and durable ash-Sifter; and

the especial object of my invention is to dispense with the necessity for shoveling or pouring the ashes into the sifter by providing a sifter which is constructed so that an ash-pan or other vessel maybe set into and held in a position to co-operate with the screen or sieve, thus separating the ashes from the cinders and retaining the cinders within the ash-pan.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ashsifter constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a different relative position.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, A designates a cylindrical sheet-metal base or cover, which may fit over the top of a can or barrel, as shown. Fastened upon and supported by the base-section A is an outer sheetmetal casing 13. As illustrated, the casing B is substantially octagonal in cross-section and is provided with ahinged cover ortop G. Pivoted to the side of the cover 0, I may provide a curved sheet-metal piece or link. D, which will serve as a stop to limit the motion of the cover 0 and to support the same when it is thrown open, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

The sifting devices, which are journaled in the casing B, consist, essentially, of a screen or sieve and springs for holding an ash-pan in position to co-operate with the screen.

Referring to the drawings, E designates a pan or body portion having extending studs or pins 10, which are journaled in castings 11, carried by the casingB, as shown. An operating handle or crank 12 is fastened upon one of the studs or pins 10, as shown in Fig. 1. Fastened upon and secured to the casing B in a position to co-operate withthe operating handle or crank 12 is a casting 13, which is provided with a notch or recess to engage with the handle 12 to normally hold the sifting devices in an upright or normal position.

Instead of using a notched plate or casting for engaging the handle 12 a spring-catch may be employed for this purpose; but in practice I have found that when the parts are constructed of sheet metal they will themselves provide a sufficient degree of spring action for this purpose.

The cover F of the body portion E is made of Woven wire and constitutes the screen or sieve for separating the ashes and the cinders.

The screen or cover F may be fastened in its closed position by means of a catch 6.

' The cover F is preferably formed of a substantially rectangular framing 17, having reinforcing strips or bars 15.

In order to provide an increased riddlingsurface and to allow a space for the ashes to be freely sifted, the cover or screen F is preferably provided near its center with an offset portion H, having a cover 16 of woven wire, as shown.

Fitting into and movably mounted in the pan or body portion E is an inner pan or section G, which is normally held in its highest position by means of spiral springs let, as shown.

When my improved ash-sifter as thus c011- structed is to be employed to sift a quantity of ashes which are contained in an ash-pan or vessel I, the ash-pan is placed in the pan G and the coverF is shut down and fastened in place by means of catch 6, thus compressing the spiral springs 14, which will hold the ash-pan securely in position to co-operate with the sieve or cover F. The operating-handle 12 is then actuated to turn the parts substan tially into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, and by oscillating the operating-handle the ashes may be quickly sifted. When the parts are turned back into their normal position, the cinders will fall from the extension'or hopper H back into the ash-pan or vessel I.

Another way in which my ash-sifter may be employed is to shovel or pour the ashes into the pan G, and in such cases the ashes can be sifted and separated from the cinders in the ordinary manner.

Instead of using my ash-sifter in connection with a cylindrical cover fitting over the top of a barrel it is obvious that my sifter could be connected to any of the ordinary forms of ash-chutes, if so desired.

I am aware that many other changes may be made in the construction of my device by those who are skilled in the art, and I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the construction which Ihave shown and described; but

That I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An ash-sitter comprising an outer casin g, a pivoted, reversible body portion journaled in said casing, a screen or sieve forming a cover for said body portion, and clamping devices for holding ash-pans or vessels of varying sizes into engagement with the cover of the screen or body portion, whereby the cinders may be retained in said ash-pans or vessels, substantially as described.

2. An ash-sitter comprising an outer casing, a pivoted reversible body portion journaled in said casing, a screen or sieve forming a cover for said body portion, a pan fitting within said body portion, and springs for normally holding said pan in its highest position, substantially as described.

3. An ash-Sifter comprising an outer sheetmetal casing, a pivoted body portion journaled within said casing, an operating handle or crank, a screen or sieve forming a cover for said body portion, a pan fitting within said body portion, and spiral springs for normally holding said pan in its highest position, substantially as described.

4:. An ash-sitter comprising an outer sheetmetal casing B, a reversible pivoted body portion E journaled in said casing, a screen or sieveF forming a cover for said body portion, and having an offset portion or hopper H, an operating handle 12, a pan G fitting within said body portion, and spiral springs for normally holding said pan in its highest position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H. a M.. SMITH.

Witnesses PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE, E. M. HEALY. 

